The number of Labour MPs who abstained or voted against the cut to the winter fuel allowance for pensioners does not fully represent the widening rifts within the party
Hit by a revolt over cutting the winter fuel allowance for 10 million pensioners, Keir Starmer is refocusing on hope by identifying light at the end of the tunnel.
Some 53 Labour MPs did not support the controversial axe, though Downing Street insists only a dozen were actual abstentions while one other, Jon Trickett, voted against.
The numbers fail to fully represent much wider and deeper concern within Labour ranks at the surprise cash grab.
Moving the agenda on, focusing on much that is good in what his government is doing, will not be easy for the Prime Minister.
But he knows that he must do just that to show how Labour is rebuilding Britain after 14 years of Tory neglect and destruction.
When the country eventually emerges in a brighter time, with people feeling wealthier and public services revived, Mr Starmer will then be able to relax and bask in achieving his bold mission to rejuvenate the nation.
Cons chaos
Blame for freeing 1,700 prisoners after serving only 40% of their sentences lies with the incompetent Conservatives who filled jails close to bursting point.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood faced no alternative and her Tory predecessor Alex Chalk would in all likelihood have done the same to stop the justice system collapsing.
Scenes of cons celebrating early release are nauseating and reoffending is a serious risk when so many are being put on to the streets.
We urgently need a public debate on crime prevention, punishment and rehabilitation and which offenders we put behind bars
The Government deserves sympathy for dealing with another inherited Tory disaster.
Wise words
It’s unnerving to see BBC bosses prying into messages sent and received by Strictly staff in the bullying probe.
The wisest advice for workers might be to never write anything you wouldn’t say publicly – and if you must, then “delete, delete, delete”.